STANDARD OF CHARACTER.

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piety is of course essentially the same in all ages, but in the progress of light, it develops increasing elevation and completeness of character.

It seems to have been supposed in former times, that if once a man became pious and united with a Christian church, he might then live to himself as before, if only he came to the Lord's table, and was guilty of no scandalous offence. But now the primitive sentiment is regaining its place, that Christ calls all his disciples to a life of service for the good of the world.

Once it was supposed, that when a man had been so successful in business as to have accumulated a sufficient property for himself and family, he had then an undoubted right to retire, and live the rest of his years at ease upon his possessions. As though the true end of property were to enable a man to indulge himself, rust out life, become a drone upon earth, till welcomed to heaven as a good and faithful servant! But now the sentiment is gaining ground, that the true end of wealth is the enhancement of usefulness, and that no man has a right to retire and live at ease, so long as God affords him ability to conduct business, and do good. Let the sentiments universally obtain, that all Christians are called to a life of benevolent service for the good of mankind, till summoned from earth to the higher services of heaven, and their moral power would

be immeasurably enhanced. Then would they truly become the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Once, it was considered quite Christian to make, sell, and drink the cup of poison, provided the laws of the land were not violated. Now, but very few Christian minds are so dark as to tolerate these things.

Once, to kidnap, import, buy and sell slaves, was considered no violation of Christian principles; and even the excellent John Newton was engaged in this nefarious traffic of human souls. Now, the whole system of slavery is condemned by far the greater portion of the Christian community throughout the world.

There is evil as well as good in these movements of reform. Possessing more zeal than knowledge, and not making due allowance for different degrees of light, some learn the unhappy art of dealing forth uncharitable denunciations against all who do not recognize their own views; and thus the spirit of Christian charity, which hopeth all things and endureth all things, is sacrificed to the dark spirit of vituperation and slander. Still, the evil of all genuine moral reforms is incidental and temporary, while the good is ultimate and abiding. The evil will be corrected and will pass away; whatever good is secured, will live on.

The standard of Christian beneficence is also

INCREASING BENEFICENCE.

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steadily rising. Those who were schooled and whose habits were formed in earlier times, are generally less forward to contribute to benevolent institutions, than the middle-aged and younger classes. Within less than half a century, it was a marvelous thing for a rich man to give five dollars to a benevolent object; where now, without any marvel at all, he cheerfully gives his fifty or five hundred. There is at least ten times as much in proportion to means given in benevolence now, as was given in former times. Let this be considered in connection with the increase of property. Wealth is rolling in upon our country beyond a parallel. Almost all enterprising men of business are growing rich. Once this would have augured ruin; but now that the true end of riches is becoming better understood, and the hearts of men are more opened, it promises great good. The men who are doing most to promote the institutions of learning and religion, are, as a general fact, the very men who are most prosperous in worldly things; so that the promise seems to be literally realized, that the righteous shall inherit the earth. As long as the channels of benevolence are kept sufficiently open and active, the increase of wealth, instead of corrupting and destroying us, will prove a vast blessing to our country and to the world. "The gold and the silver are mine, saith the Lord." He has an important use for all this wealth; let every young man, who

would live for the highest good of our country and of mankind, train himself to the generous art of laying it bountifully upon the altar of God.

The conclusion at which we arrive, from surveying the condition and prospects of our country and of the world, is, that the young man who would faithfully meet the high and solemn demands of this age and nation, must possess, in an unprecedented degree, THOROUGH AND EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE; SOUND PRINCIPLES; WELL-FORMED HABITS; WITH ELEVATED PIETY TOWARDS GOD AND UNIVER

SAL BENOVOLENCE TOWARDS MEN.

The

It is to aid you, my young friend, in the formation of such a character, that these pages are written. To say that it is essential to your highest influence and happiness, is almost superfluous. The streams can never rise above their fountains. character which you would impart to the world, you must yourself possess. All whom God has ever honored as instruments of eminent good to mankind, have been men of this character. Why did he call to this honor Noah, and Abraham, and David, and Moses, and Daniel? and why John, and Peter, and Paul? and why, in every age, those who have been, like Alfred and Washington, fathers and saviours of those nations that have been the depositaries and almoners of his richest blessings to mankind—but because they possessed such char

RESPONSIBILITIES OF YOUNG MEN.

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acters as pleased him, and because he has reserved this honor for such only? As sure then as you would confer the highest benefit upon our nation, you must be truly pious; and as sure as our nation would confer the highest benefit upon the world, it must be a pious nation. Unless you render supreme homage to God, and live to his service, you violate infinitely the greatest and most solemn of all obligations. Whatever else you may do, you certainly do not please God; and hence, will finally prove to have been a curse and not a blessing to yourself and to the world.

The great question before you is, whether you will cast in your lot and influence with those who are struggling to reclaim the world from sin to the knowledge and love of God—whether you will be one to help secure that speedy and glorious triumph of true religion upon earth, which is now placed within your means; or whether you will withold yourself from this service, cast your influence upon the opposite scale, and thus be one to promote the destruction of the fairest possibilities and brightest hopes of the age.

If the friend or the enemy of religion acts under solemn responsibilities at every age of the world, surely the young man of this age and country, who maintains the position of a faithful Christian, holds a place which an angel might covet; while the young man who maintains the opposite position,